Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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Side Effects

Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a retinoid that is taken orally and is approved only for severe acne. It is thought...

Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a retinoid that is taken orally and is approved only for severe acne. It is thought to clear acne primarily through its ability to permanently reduce skin oil (sebum) production.

Isotretinoin is available in capsule form and is usually taken twice a day. Your physician will prescribe an initial dose, and this dose may increase or decrease depending on the response to treatment and side effects.

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3
15.6%
2
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1
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Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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April 1, 2013

Pros:

Only cleared skin temporarily

Cons:

-LONG TERM side effects:
~Dry Skin
~Chapped Lips
~Night vision/ blurred vision
~Skin scares more easily
~Acne can come back worse and harder to treat
~Skin more sensitive to light/ sunburns

I did two courses of Accutane, one in 2003 and 2005. The first course I only made it through the first 8 weeks because the symptoms were severe. After that, my skin was clear for 6 months, after that my acne slowly started coming back, and by a year I had full blown cystic acne again. I decided to give it another try in 2005, and this time I stayed on it for 6 months. Again, the results were only temporary except this time I only stayed clear for 3 months and when the acne returned it was much worse. A few years later I had a Derm tell me that there were studies that show women with hormonal acne did better on a lower dosage for shorter time then a higher dosage for longer. He wanted me to try another course but I refused. The problem I have with this drug is that I think that people are to eager for a quick fix without realizing the consequences. Accutane should be a LAST RESORT before trying everything else. In 2011 left the US and moved abroad. This is when my acne cleared up without even trying. I later researched and found out about all the chemicals and hormones put into our water and food. I have to travel for work and my acne started coming back but not as severe as before. Now it is manageable with a combination herbal supplements, beauty products, BP, and a change in diet. I believe I could have done this when I was in the US. Derm's don't make money by telling you to change your diet or try herbal supplements. They need to sell pills and creams to support their lifestyle. If they work for you, great, but research the long term effects and make sure your not damaging your body! Since accutane, I have dry lips, dry skin, night vision, skin sensitivity, and skin that doesn't heal as well (not just on my face).
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JubilantFlow
September 30, 2015
Change of diet does in fact help with acne. Despite what some scientists believe . Anyone with acne notices more breakout after a soda or a greasy meal then after cup of water and a salad .
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July 9, 2012

Pros:

Clear skin within a month

Cons:

Hair loss, eyelashes started falling off, eyebrows are also weak.

After years of debating, I decided to finally give it a try. I took accutane and the next day, my hair started falling out. I was on 40 mg, I weigh 123 an am 5'u. About a month into it, my eyelashes started falling out so I decided I couldn't deal with all this hair loss. I stopped after a month and it's been 6 months since and my hair still falls. It's decreased, but I never dealt with this problem. I couldn't believe my body couldn't properly handle it because I was always so healthy. It's worth a shot, but make sure you listen to your body and see how it's reacting! Good luck to all! Stay strong.
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December 31, 2011

Pros:

Clears you up no doubt

Cons:

sunburn
hair falls out
dry
red face
lips bleed
leaves scars

I had to do two rounds of this.. The first time my beautiful skin lasted 6 months and the second time it lasted a year. I'm breaking out again and it's because I went off of Yaz (girls do not get off of this! This was my problem both times). It did make me have fantastic skin for a while, but I will never go on this again. My face is tomato red in all my pictures and it took about 6 months AFTER getting off of it for me to start tanning again. I don't go to tanning beds, but my face was ghostly white for those 6 months no matter how much sun I got. DO NOT GO ON THIS DRUG, Try Yaz for 3 months if you're a girl, try medicines like Menocycline (I couldn't get on this because of stomach issues), and BENZOYL PEROXIDE (which I'm allergic to). Hope that helps!
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August 22, 2011

Pros:

clear skin both times

Cons:

-developed diabetes with no family history
-mental health problems
-nose bleeds
-irregular menstruation
-photosensitivity
-bad night vision
-dry skin, lips, hair

definitely not worth it.
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June 29, 2011

Pros:

clear acne completely (for a period of time)
even the black head was so much lesser...

Cons:

horrible acne on face during first few months and I would not want to leave house..
too dry that i cannot do anything with it....
skin rash..
I was on accutane for 2 times....first times clear skin completely then acne came back after 8 months. 2nd time was also the same...acne came back after a year

it only works for me for a short period of time.. and i felt so confident about my skin and i was able to go out WITHOUT ANY MAKE UP. i always had to put on make up to cover my pimples.... but I think i will not go on accutane again because everytime pimples do come back....and i do not think its worth for my body to undergo all the side effects again....all i do now is drink more water and eat healthy... it really depends on different person....but it just did not work for me....too bad.. if i have to go through all these side effects again (ie bad pimples first few months and dryness then pimples back), i'd honestly rather drink more water and eat healthy even thou sometimes i do feel like a chore...
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October 29, 2010

Pros:

made my skin less oily and there was a decreased in acne severity while taking it but just lasted for 3 months

Cons:

initial breakout, i mean the gross type
high possibility of scarring. i got teribble scarring from this
redness of the face

i don't think this would help anyone who are suffering from oily skin like me. it is not safe and does not targeting the root cause of sebaceous glands' oil secretion. androgen is the major cause of it. i am taking 100 mg spironolactone once a day for a week now and there is already a decreased in sebum secretion.
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April 14, 2010

Pros:

Clearer skin, but just for a few weeks

Cons:

After a month all the pimples came back. Later my skin condition became even worse than before the treatment.
Adverse effects: severe burning scars on my hands, my lips completely dried, burning and scarry.

Fully disappointed. My doctor (said to be one of the best dermatologists of the country) promised me for sure that Accutane will cure my skin problem, and the pimples will never come back again. I took Accutane more than one year long (two months taking, two month pause etc.) without any significant effect (just for the first few weeks).
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November 30, 2009

Pros:

nil

Cons:

major disruptive side efects

Discontinue offering this product.It's dangerous.My daughter has suffered in the extreme and has continued using it.This drug is now on the Canadian list of drugs to avoid.Naturally she is feeling better.
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November 15, 2009

Pros:

None

Cons:

Still not seen no improvement to my acne condition at all while taking accutane for a month. It has infact made my acne worse.

Everybody has different body's so it maybe worth a try but for me its not looking good although i am continuing to take it for at least a few more months. Furthermore, side effects i have experienced are joint pains and dry lips.
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September 25, 2009

Pros:

It is an amazing product. I used it for several years and it cleared up about 90% of my acne after 2 years which was great for high school. Change of diet is necessary.

Cons:

Severe dryness on lips, hands, & feet. After a year I developed joint pain in my knees and ankles. Headaches, mood swings, and easily agitated after a year of this. Change of diet is necessary.

The product does work. I don't think you can take it as long as I did now-a-days due to legislation. You need to change you diet while on it. You have to have a lot of blood tests to ensure you are healthy enough to take the drug. You can be a bit moody on this because of pain and dryness as well as the drug itself. I do think my emotional reactions are different now than when I was a teenager but I am unsure of what effect accutanne played regarding that development of brain chemistry versus just ageing in general. I still have acne on my back and it is severe cystic acne. I won't take accutanne again after being on it so long because my job now is far too stressful. I would strongly recommend you have a low stress life-style prior to taking this drug as it made me much more uptight according to myself, friends, family, and teachers. I think the cost of this drug has gone down sense when I took it.
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website